Gene Allen Smith, The Slaves' Gamble: Choosing Sides in the War of 1812

Les Standiford, Desperate Sons: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, John Hancock, and the Secret Bands of Radicals Who Led the Colonies to War

* Book Signing 4:30-5:15 p.m.

Karen Engelmann's first novel is "The Stockholm Octavo." Engelmann will appear Feb. 2 at Martin County Library System's BookMania! at Jensen Beach High School.

Q: What was your favorite book as a child?

A: "When We Were Very Young" by A.A. Milne.

Q: Did you always want to be a writer?

A: Yes, but I wanted to be an artist too and that's what I did first.

Q: If you weren't a writer, what would you be doing?

A: I was a designer and illustrator and then I want back to school at 50 and got my M.F.A in creative writing.

Q: Can you remember the very first thing you ever wrote?

A: Angst-ridden poetry as a teenager and I signed them, Wordsworth. And then a play that turned into a memoir that turned into a novel.

Q: Can you recall the moment you found out you were going to be published?

A: I expect it felt like a candidate waiting for election results. I felt like I was going to melt. It was sublime, indescribable.

Q: How many rejections did you get?

A: In trying to find an agent, over 40. I tried everything to get an agent, including a Pitch Slam, which is like speed dating for writers. Once I got an agent I got about a dozen before my manuscript was sold.

Q: What is your work day like?

A: I like to write in the morning and I try to write at least two or three hours a day. They key for me is to work everyday, whether it's six hours or two hours.

Q: What is your writing style? Do you outline first?

A: No outlines for me. I like to let it flow and then go back and think about structure.

Q: Do you have a preferred place to write?

A: Yes, I have a wonderful little room that has all that I need, including a place to lie down.

Q: Do you prefer to work with music or quiet?

A: I like it very quiet.

Q: How do you arrive at the physical appearance of your characters?

A: Characters come first for me, they are crucial to a story, but I don't see them as a whole person. I know where they come from, what they've been through and then their appearance emerges. I want to give the readers enough details to see my character but leave a little to their imaginations too.

Q: Where do your ideas come from? Do the stories come to you in total or in pieces?

A: Ideas are so mysterious. I think they can be buried deep inside you and not emerge until much later on. Things I see, stories I hear, events that take place all cause ideas to swirl around. It's the ones that keep popping back up that I pay attention to. My story came in bits and pieces, I knew where I wanted to go but had no idea how I was going to get there.

Q: If your book was made into a feature film, who would you want to play the lead?

A: Ryan Gosling, of course.

Q: What is your favorite movie that was adapted from a book?

A: Does it have to be a movie? I like an old BBC TV series called "Bleak House" made from the Charles Dickens book.

Q: What are you reading now?

A: "NW" by Zadie SmithQ: Who is your favorite author?

A: Dickens, Toni Morrison.

Q: Do you use an e-reader?

A: No. I have one, but I don't use it. I like a book.

Q: How much time do you spend on social media?

A: I have a Facebook page and it's fun but it's too much of a distraction for me. I check it once a week, maybe.

Q: Do you read your reviews?

A: Absolutely. I learn from a thoughtfully written review. I don't take it personally.

Q: Are there any books you refuse to read? Why?

A: Not refuse. I read broadly. I don't read a lot of thrillers 'cause I can't put them down and sometimes they scare me.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: I do design work for my local education foundation and I read, do Tai Chi and Yoga.